Glazed Pork chops with crispy brussel sprouts

 Brine Ingredients: 

4 bone-in pork chops
1/4 cp salt
1/4 cup sugar
4 cups water

Directions for brine: Combine the water, sugar and salt in a ziptop bag. Add the pork chops and brine for 60 minutes. Remove from brine and dry off.  

Ingredients for glaze:

1/4 cup habanero jam
2 TBSP dijon
2 TBSP balsamic
1 TBSP orange marmalade
1/4 cup bourbon maple syrup (Runamok brand)
1 tsp thai spice paste (from the tube) or use ginger paste
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper

Directions for glaze: Combine and simmer to reduce by half. Reserve

Cooking instructions for the pork: 

Preheat a hot cast iron pan with just a touch of oil. Right before putting the pork in the pan, sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Sear for 4 minutes on one side. Turn over and sear for 2-3 minutes depending on the thickness of your pork. Start brushing your sauce on the pork. Check the internal temp of the pork. Reduce heat. Flip and brush more sauce on.  Ideal tender pork temperature if 145 degrees. Let rest under foil for 5 minutes.  Serve with more sauce. 

Serving Suggestion - with green beans or brussel sprouts.  Today I did brussel sprouts in the oven. I started them when I took the pork out of the brine to let dry. The brussel sprouts got nice and dark and crispy and then to balance out the bitterness of the sprouts, I added sweet dried cherries and crunch pistachios. It was a perfect side to the glazed pork chop. 

Brussel Sprout Ingredients: 

About 1lb of brussel sprouts, cut in half
Garlic powder
honey (hot honey can be used too)
optional: honey roasted pistachios, chopped
optional: dried cherries, chopped
salt and pepper

Directions for Sprouts: Preheat the oven to 425 and line a sheet tray with foil. Toss the brussel sprouts in a bowl with a little oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder and hot honey. Place the brussel sprouts cut side down on the tray and drizzle with more olive oil. Roast for 25 minutes. Quickly flip and cook another 5-10 minutes. Dump the brussel sprouts back into the bowl, toss with a little more honey and some dried cherries and chopped pistachios. Serve right away. 

Wine pairing: 

Substance

Cabernet Sauvignon

Columbia Valley, WA

2022